Environmental project of National importance at Pilikula unable to utilise even treated water from STP, at Moodshedde- Pachchanady, hence untreated sewage water is let out into Phalguni river – PUCL DK

Mangaluru ; Commissioner of Mangaluru City Corporation Akshay Sridhar on Saturday had inspected the Sewage treatment plant at Padushedde-Pachachanady and on finding untreated sewage being let into river Phalguni that flowed into Maravoor Dam which supplied drinking water to nearly 13 villages, decided to serve a show cause notice within 24 hours, as to why a criminal complaint should not be registered against the company under the water (Prevention and Control of Pollution Act) said a press release issued by R.Eswarraj President of PUCL DK who was also present during the inspection of the Commissioner, which was done after media reports and complaints was made by PUCL DK to Chief Minister and KSHRC.

During the inspection, Prasanth, a resident of Moodshedde had also shown, number of video footages of the untreated sewage water being let out to Commissioner, and said that even properly treated water should not be let out to Phalguni river knowing that the same water reaches Maravoor Dam. Properly treated sewage water, from the STP was meant for Pilikula only, and any quantity, if pumped to such a size of an Environmental project of National importance, is capable of making use of it, provided, if only the Sewage treatment plant at Moodsheede-Pachachanady, ensures continuous water after proper treatment, which is the responsibility of Mangaluru City Corporation.

The Commissioner said that CCTV would be immediately installed at the STP to monitor and ensure that such un-desirable incidents do not get repeated, which will followed up by regular inspections.

Sources in Pilikula pointed out, that the Tertiary water treatment plant near the Doorshan at Pilikula, which is also under Mangaluru City Corporation, is defunct, since, not maintained and run efficiently. Hence, water cannot be pumped, to the over head tank that is situated within Pilikula campus. Hence even if treated water is pumped from STP cannot be used. Tertiary water treatment plant is the final stage of the multi-stage wastewater cleaning process. This third stage of treatment removes inorganic compounds, bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Removing these harmful substances makes the treated water safe to reuse, recycle, or release into the environment

Even when Commissioner, was stating that we are working on long term solution, Ganeshan Deputy Commissioner, Development of Mangaluru City Corporation, was heard, telling Prasanth, that he will do something for him to solve the problem and ensure quality drinking, which Prasanth said, that, he could not understand, as how, Ganeshan DCD, is going to solve the problem, for him alone.

When, drawn the attention of a technical report, that has been received from experts of National Institute of Technology, Karnataka, for a permanent solution, as stated by Commissioner, Prasanth said he was eager to know what is that permanent solution and also be a beneficiary among the resident of 13 villages of that solution.